Japanese in Singapore

Introduction / History

Many Japanese came to live in Singapore in the 1870s. In the 1930s many were fishermen. In World War II, Japan occupied Singapore. In 1947 all the Japanese were sent back to Japan. The only Japanese who could live in Singapore during that period were their diplomats with their families. In the late 1950s the Japanese were allowed to come into the country again. Many Japanese businesses began trading then.
The Japanese grew in numbers in Singapore during the 1970s and many Japanese manufacturing businesses came. In the middle of the 1980s most Japanese in Singapore were managers and engineers with their families. Others are office workers in corporations who came with their families.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Japanese in Singapore speak Japanese, but some can speak Mandarin and English.
Married and single Japanese women do not mix with other co-workers. Golf is a well-liked sport among Japanese businesspeople in Singapore and there are many Japanese golf clubs here. They also like swimming and tennis.
There are many Japanese restaurants in Singapore, and many are listed on the internet as well.
There are many Japanese schools in Singapore. Most Japanese send their children to these schools.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Those that are religious among the Japanese tend to follow Buddhism or the Tenrikyo religion which is a new Shinto religion.

What Are Their Needs?

The importance of wealth and materialism are central to the Japanese. They need to have this stronghold broken.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Japanese realize that wealth and materialism should not dominate.
This may appear more in Japan but the number of suicides among the Japanese is very high and some young people lock themselves in a room and are wasting away. Pray these people will come to Jesus Christ.
Pray that Christians in Singapore will give the gospel message to the Japanese leading to them coming to Salvation then.

Text Source:   Joshua Project